Coronavirus cases surge in Brazil, overtaking UK, Spain, Italy
While most countries around the world have managed to slow down the rate of new coronavirus infections, cases are surging in Brazil.
The South American juggernaut now has the third highest number of cases in the world, and at its current rate, will overtake Russia by the weekend.
Ninety per cent of intensive care beds in Rio de Janeiro are now occupied, and coronavirus cases in the country have doubled in the past two weeks.
Countless graves are dug in anticipation of many, many coronavirus deaths in Manaus, Brazil. Getty
At the current count, 271,885 Brazilians have been infected with COVID-19, more than the United Kingdom, Spain and China.
Exacerbating the problem is the poor hygiene in Brazil's favelas, or slums.
A lack of piped drinking water or access to soap means infection rates are difficult to stem.
Coronavirus fatalities are buried in mass graves in Manaus, Brazil. Getty
And cases are now spreading to indigenous tribes in the Amazon.
In the face of surging cases and deaths, President Jair Bolsonaro has been dismissive.
This week Mr Bolsonaro joined crowds of anti-lockdown supporters, embracing children and posing for photographs.
In late April Mr Bolsonaro was asked about the number of deaths from coronavirus that particular day.
Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro has been greeting crowds of supporters as the pandemic worsens in his country. Getty
"So what?" he said.
"I'm sorry. What do you want me to do?"
Last week Mr Bolsonaro demanded that state governors lift their lockdown restrictions.
"We have to have the courage to face the virus. People are dying, they are! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said.
"But more will die, if the economy continues to be destroyed by those measures."
Mourners embrace one another at a graveyard in Manaus, Brazil. Getty
In the past month, two health ministers have been forced from office, both facing interference by Mr Bolsonaro and his military appointments.
Mr Bolsonaro has been repeatedly pushing the use of malaria drug chloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19.
But numerous studies find that chloroquine and associated drug hydroxychloroquine is ineffective and potentially harmful against COVID-19.
Hydroxychloroquine is a commonly used drug to treat malaria, but has been dubiously linked to curing coronavirus. AP
The governor of the state of Ceara, Camilo Santana, lamented the resignation of Health Minister Nelson Teich on Friday.
"It is unacceptable that in the face of this serious health crisis, the focus of the government is still on political and ideological discussions," he said.
"That is an affront to the nation."
Mr Bolsanaro, a far-right populist leader with a devoted fan base, has been described as South America's Donald Trump.
Coronavirus fatalities are buried in mass graves in Manaus, Brazil. Getty
He previously declared people should "poop every other day" to protect the environment, and blamed Hollywood actor Leonardo di Caprio for the country's devastating forest fires last year.
In 2017 he bragged of having four sons, but "on the fifth I had a moment of weakness and it came out a woman".
He said he would rather his son died in an accident than be gay.
Nearly 18,000 Brazilians have died from COVID-19.
Read more: The most shocking quotes from Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro
Read more: Leonardo DiCaprio to blame of Brazil bushfires: Bolsonaro
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